Abstract
Cancer cells, by releasing pro-angiogenic factors, stimulate the growth of the thick capillary net necessary for the nourishment of the tumor mass. The battle to defeat cancer uses today different approaches based on the inhibition of pathological angiogenesis: several compounds, either synthetic or biotech, aimed at this complex process, are under development. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is considered the main target for an anti-cancer therapy based on angiogenesis inhibition; the goal is to block the interaction between this cytokine and its receptors in order to stop the intracellular signaling pathways leading to endothelium remodeling. FDA recently approved two drugs specifically aimed at VEGF, bevacizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody, and pegaptinib, a pegylated aptamer with application in ophthalmic pathologies. These two approvals validate anti-VEGF therapy for clinical use, and show how biotech companies are investing on angiogenesis using different approaches, i.e. exploiting protein drugs and oligonucleotide-based therapeutics. Monoclonal antibodies, as well as other high molecular weight products like cytokine-traps, aptamers and short interfering RNA (siRNA), are designed to target VEGF and its receptors. Their design, production and clinical advancement in cancer and other pathological conditions linked to angiogenesis will be specifically addressed in this review.
Keywords: Angiogenesis, VEGF, MAbs, Aptamers, VEGF-Trap, bevacizumab, ranibizumab, pegaptinib
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry
Title: From Proteins to Nucleic Acid-Based Drugs: The Role of Biotech in Anti-VEGF Therapy
Volume: 6 Issue: 4
Author(s): Barbara Gatto and Marco Cavalli
Affiliation:
Keywords: Angiogenesis, VEGF, MAbs, Aptamers, VEGF-Trap, bevacizumab, ranibizumab, pegaptinib
Abstract: Cancer cells, by releasing pro-angiogenic factors, stimulate the growth of the thick capillary net necessary for the nourishment of the tumor mass. The battle to defeat cancer uses today different approaches based on the inhibition of pathological angiogenesis: several compounds, either synthetic or biotech, aimed at this complex process, are under development. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is considered the main target for an anti-cancer therapy based on angiogenesis inhibition; the goal is to block the interaction between this cytokine and its receptors in order to stop the intracellular signaling pathways leading to endothelium remodeling. FDA recently approved two drugs specifically aimed at VEGF, bevacizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody, and pegaptinib, a pegylated aptamer with application in ophthalmic pathologies. These two approvals validate anti-VEGF therapy for clinical use, and show how biotech companies are investing on angiogenesis using different approaches, i.e. exploiting protein drugs and oligonucleotide-based therapeutics. Monoclonal antibodies, as well as other high molecular weight products like cytokine-traps, aptamers and short interfering RNA (siRNA), are designed to target VEGF and its receptors. Their design, production and clinical advancement in cancer and other pathological conditions linked to angiogenesis will be specifically addressed in this review.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Gatto Barbara and Cavalli Marco, From Proteins to Nucleic Acid-Based Drugs: The Role of Biotech in Anti-VEGF Therapy, Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry 2006; 6 (4) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187152006777698178
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187152006777698178 |
Print ISSN 1871-5206 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5992 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Induction of cell death in cancer cells by modulating telomerase activity using small molecule drugs
Telomeres are distinctive but short stretches present at the corners of chromosomes and aid in stabilizing chromosomal makeup. Resynthesis of telomeres supported by the activity of reverse transcriptase ribonucleoprotein complex telomerase. There is no any telomerase activity in human somatic cells, but the stem cells and germ cells undergone telomerase ...read more
Role of natural compounds as anti anti-cancer agents
Cancer is considered the leading cause of worldwide mortality, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2022. Cancer outcome can be improved through an appropriate screening and early detection and through an efficient clinical treatment. Chemotherapy remains an important approach in treatment o f several types of cancers, even though ...read more
Signaling and enzymatic modulators in cancer treatment
Cancer accounts for nearly 10 million deaths in 2022 and is considered the leading cause of worldwide mortality. Cancer outcome can be improved through an appropriate screening and early detection and through an efficient clinical treatment. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery are the most important approach for the treatment of several ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
η-Secretase: Reduction of Amyloid Precursor Protein η-Site Cleavage in Alzheimers Disease
Current Alzheimer Research Short-Chain Fatty Acid Inhibitors of Histone Deacetylases: Promising Anticancer Therapeutics?
Current Cancer Drug Targets Evolution and Analysis of Heterogeneity in the Clinical Expression of Aortic Diseases Similar to Marfan’s Syndrome: Challenge and Art in Clinical Diagnosis
Current Rheumatology Reviews Toxins Targeting Voltage-Activated Ca<sup>2+</sup> Channels and their Potential Biomedical Applications
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry The Right Ventricle: Biologic Insights and Response to Disease: Updated
Current Cardiology Reviews Management of Stable COPD: An Update
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews Structure-Editing of Nucleic Acids for Selective Targeting of RNA
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species in the Renal Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury
Current Pharmaceutical Design The Rationale and Development of New Drugs to Treat HIV Infection
Medicinal Chemistry The Therapeutic Potential of the Wnt Signaling Pathway in Bone Disorders
Current Molecular Pharmacology Smoking and Hypertension: Effects on Clinical, Biochemical and Pathological Variables Due to Isolated or Combined Action on Cardiovascular System
Current Pharmaceutical Design Cytokines and their Antagonists as Therapeutic Agents
Current Medicinal Chemistry Xenograft models of primary acute myeloid leukemia for the development of imaging strategies and evaluation of novel targeted therapies.
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Diabetes and Vascular Disease: Basic Concepts of Nitric Oxide Physiology, Endothelial Dysfunction, Oxidative Stress and Therapeutic Possibilities
Current Vascular Pharmacology Anti-Cancer Therapy: Targeting the Mevalonate Pathway
Current Cancer Drug Targets Acute Actions of Natriuretic Peptides in Coronary Vasculature and Ischaemic Myocardium
Current Pharmaceutical Design Future Prospect of RNA Interference for Cancer Therapies
Current Drug Targets Multiple Sequence Alignment as a Workbench for Molecular Systems Biology
Current Bioinformatics Pathogenesis-Oriented Targets for Adjunctive Therapy
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets Smoking and Cardiovascular System: Cellular Features of the Damage
Current Pharmaceutical Design